Hi,
I have an intemittent whining noise that I think is coming from the engine compartment or the front of the car.
The whining noise occurs when there is a change in engine speed (3000 to 3500 RPM in 3rd gear, when RPMs are going up) and from 2500 to 2000 RPM in 2nd gear when slowing down. Also occurs when downshifting from 5th gear to 4th gear to slow down the vehicle, but the engine speed is going up.
The whine does not disappear when I push the clutch pedal all the way to the floor.
Surfing the internet, people have proposed various possible causes for whining noises:
A) AC - Schrader Valve bad and low refridgerant
B) Bad Bearing on the serpentine Belt tensioner
C) Main or Auxilary Fan going bad
D) Wheel Bearings going bad
E) Problem with Bearings in the differential; differential going bad
F) Alternator bushing going bad
I can eliminate A) because the whining noise is still there if I turn off the AC
I think I can eliminate C) since I think the fans run at the same speed all the time regardless of engine RPM.
I think I can also elminate D) because the noise is not a function of turning?
I am not too concerned about B) because it sounds like an inexpensive repair and I am willing to take the hit to replace it speculatively.
Are there experiments that I can run to determine if I have problems E) Bad Differential Bearings or worn differential or F) Alternator Bushings
At 16.5 years and 212K miles, perhaps it doesn't make sense to repair it any longer, but it's the first nice car I bought (at 6 miles on the odometer) and I am hoping to keep it alive. It still drives like when new except for the whining noise. (I've put in more than the cost of the car in repairs, though).
Thank you for your help.
I have an intemittent whining noise that I think is coming from the engine compartment or the front of the car.
The whining noise occurs when there is a change in engine speed (3000 to 3500 RPM in 3rd gear, when RPMs are going up) and from 2500 to 2000 RPM in 2nd gear when slowing down. Also occurs when downshifting from 5th gear to 4th gear to slow down the vehicle, but the engine speed is going up.
The whine does not disappear when I push the clutch pedal all the way to the floor.
Surfing the internet, people have proposed various possible causes for whining noises:
A) AC - Schrader Valve bad and low refridgerant
B) Bad Bearing on the serpentine Belt tensioner
C) Main or Auxilary Fan going bad
D) Wheel Bearings going bad
E) Problem with Bearings in the differential; differential going bad
F) Alternator bushing going bad
I can eliminate A) because the whining noise is still there if I turn off the AC
I think I can eliminate C) since I think the fans run at the same speed all the time regardless of engine RPM.
I think I can also elminate D) because the noise is not a function of turning?
I am not too concerned about B) because it sounds like an inexpensive repair and I am willing to take the hit to replace it speculatively.
Are there experiments that I can run to determine if I have problems E) Bad Differential Bearings or worn differential or F) Alternator Bushings
At 16.5 years and 212K miles, perhaps it doesn't make sense to repair it any longer, but it's the first nice car I bought (at 6 miles on the odometer) and I am hoping to keep it alive. It still drives like when new except for the whining noise. (I've put in more than the cost of the car in repairs, though).
Thank you for your help.
May 19, 2008 at 2:07 AM
